Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The theories of frequency in hearing refer to the different ways in which sound waves are processed and perceived by the auditory system. These theories explain how our ears detect and interpret the pitch or frequency of a sound.
Pitch refers to how high or low a sound is perceived to be. It is related to the frequency of the sound wave, with higher frequencies corresponding to higher pitches.
Auditory Processing: Auditory processing involves how our brains analyze and make sense of sounds we hear, including identifying patterns, recognizing speech, and localizing sounds.
Tuning Curve: A tuning curve is a graphical representation that shows an individual's sensitivity to different frequencies. It helps us understand how our ears respond differently at various pitches.